WAR TOPICS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 290, 2 April 1941, Page 2

WAR TOPICS

by The Beacon Watchman

WOOL FOR TROOPS USE OF CROSSBREDS IMPORTANCE OF SUPPLIES Tiie importance of wool supplies in Avartime lias been emphasised in many ways, says the London Textile Mercury and Argus, and it points as demonstration of this io the decision of the United States to admit imported wools for tho manufacture of uniforms for its armed force.-. Hitherto it had been a rule that only domestic wools should be used for litis purpose, "The obvious ob.jiM.t of this," adds the Textile Mercury, "is to bring into use the crossbred wools of New Zealand and South America, which arc specially suitable. There was big buying by the United States in Buenos and Montevideo last season, and there have been important transactions in the new clip wools.

"This has caused a sharp rise in and these are now somewhere near the same level as avools issued by the Wool Control in the United Kingdom. Buenos Aires is no longer the cheap avool market that it Avas a few months ago. To Avhat extent our oavii Ministry of Supply avouUl release Ncav Zealand crossbred for use in the production of military clothing in the United States is a matter of conjecture.

Empire Forces Needs

"According to present indications it will all be required for clothing the British Empire forcc.s, but in view of the close co-operation between the two Governments no one outside otficial circlcs can express an opinion whether New Zealand crossbreds will be, made available to United States buvers.

"From the point of view of military and civilian requirements, wool may be roughly divided into two main groups with the dividing line between 58's and 5(Fs. Merino* and fine crossbreds are, of course used in the production of high-class Worsted khaki for officers' uniforms and for the finer grades of hoshilt the hulk demand is pn crossbreds of 56's and below. The world's supplies of the military grades come, mainly from New Zealand and the Argentine.

"If there were to be a shortage of suitable crossbred wools, owing to the excessive demands made upon them, no doubt the trade would find a way of utilising more merinos in khaki. In fnct, some useful fabrics have been produced by blend ing crossbreds and merinos, but for the time being khaki for the armed millions is being made from the strong hard-wearing crossbreds of medium grades."

NEW DISH GULLS' EGGS FOR BREAKFAST Seagulls' eggs, reported to be tasty and nourishing, will soon ap-pear-on the British breakfast table. The Ministry of Agriculture has completed a "seagull census" and intends to collect the eggs as soon as the spring laying season begins.

The Ministry will offer them for sale to the shops. "To the Last Drop of Blood." Headed "New Zealand With Us to the Last Drop of Blood," a page of the Glasgow Sunday Mail dated, December 8 has been received by a Gisborne businessman. The page, which is devoted mainly to a review ol' New Zealand history and her war effort, also contains pictures of Major-General B. C, Freyberg, V.C., of the late "Cobber" Kain, D.F.C., cf H.M.S. Achilles and a platoon of New Zealand soldiers. A review of New Zealand's history shows tint the Dominion is far ahead of other countries in social legislation and that Ave depend on our sea routes kept open in ordnr that our exports may be sent from the country, "tt"hus it is that this smallest of all Dominions leads the comxnon-. wealth in per capita war effort," concludes the article.

SEEN IN NEWSREEL ESCAPE FROM DUNKIRK TU'RUA RESIDENT'S SISTER To attend a theatre in Thames and see a sister in a newsreel from England, featuring the ordeal of Dunkirk, was the recent experience of a Turua resident, Mr S. E. Workman. Miss D. M. Workman, a sister of Mr S- E. Workman, of Turua, is serving in the Queen Alexandria I Imperial Nursing Unit in England. ; This lady took part in the memorable evacuation of Dunkirk. While witnessing the screening of a newsreel at a Thames picture theatre some nights ago, Mr Workman was thrilled to recognise his sister included in a group of nusses shown as having landed in England after having gone through the ordeal of escaping from Fraice. On the facts being made known to the manager of the theatre, Mr B. D. Chapman, he arranged for a further "slow motion" screening of the newsreel, Miss Workman Avas also one of the nurses Avbo Avas greeted by Her Majesty the Queen shortly after the ! nuccessful evacuation. Her brother is looking forAvard to seeing a iicavsreel of that happening. The recent exploits of a Ncaa t Zealand cruiser have a special interest for Mr Workman's Avife. Avhose brother is serving on that vessel. Mir D. R. CraAvley, another brother, is at present spending a feAA' days in Turua. He is in the Air Force, and is stationed at Olcahea, near Bulls.

WAR-TIME SAYINGS "We are undoubtedly at last becoming the kind of democracy we ought always to have been. Class differences are breaking down everywhere for good," . . .Sir Hugh Walpole. "It is our freedom to talk things over in council or committee that distinguishes us from the animals —and the Germans." . . . A. P. Herbert, M.P. "The moral power of our people has never been higher than it is today after the most severe testing to which any nation has ever been subjected." . . . Pvt. Hon. Arthur Greenwood, M.P. "The price we have to pay for victory has never been so high, but since freedom depends on victory, no price can be too high." . . . Lord Simon. j "The struggle must continue until those guilty of international robbery with violence are brought to the bar of international justice." . . . The Recorder of London. "The issue for the trade unions is a simple one of survival or extinction. The fate of the unions in Germany and Italy shows that dictatorship holds no future for them. Trade unions in Britain are willingly co-operating with the Government in accelerating the armaments programme, because all sections of the community recognise the need for establishing the greatest measure of unity against the common enemy." . . . Sir Walter Citrine (in Washington). "Our war aims are for a free Europe, a free community of free peoples, so that we can go forward to build a new world based on peace and social justice." . . . Parliamentary Secretary, Minister of Supply Greenstone Rock. A huge piece of greenstone, weigh ing nearly a ton, has been presented to the Otago Museum by Mr A. Devlin, who, with his brother, was formerly a lapidary in South Dunedin. The rock, which is 4ft Gin long and about 2ft 6in wide and 20 inches deep, was found in the 'bed of the Teremakau River, on the West Coast, many years ago by miners. It was then twice the size, but was blasted in half, and the other portion was sold to Europe, probably to German lapidaries. The rock is Kahurangi or Kawa Kawa greenstone, and the outside has been weathered to a creamy white. The piece is valued at about £100.